24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 The Church gives us three parables to contemplate which reply to the allegation made by the scribes and Pharisees against Jesus that: "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Lk 15: 2) The first two portray the divine as active: "... go after the one that is lost until he finds it" (Lk 15: 4) and "search carefully until she finds it." (Lk 15: 8) The third parable, by contrast, has the father of the Prodigal patiently waiting for his son to return. It is only when he comes into sight that: "... his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran put his arms around him and kissed him." (Lk 15: 20) This gives us pause for thought regarding grace in our own lives. For, it is at Mass today that Jesus welcomes us sinners, which we acknowledge in praying the Confiteor, and gives us to eat and drink of the Holy Eucharist. How is it that I am still practicing my faith, despite all the vicissitudes of life and the secularization of society? Did I choose God or did God choose me? Did I find God or did God find me? Ultimately, it is all grace, and this is from God who loved me and sent his Son to die for me even while I was still a sinner. Jesus explains: "You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another." (Jn 15: 16-17)

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

 This Sunday Luke 14: 25-27 can also be found in Matthew 10: 37-38, however, Luke 14: 28-31 is unique. Again, this material can be seen as relevant to Theophilus and his community. The verses proper to Luke warn: "This fellow began to build and was not able to finish" (Lk 14: 30) and "So, therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions." (Lk 14: 33) Nevertheless, since it is a living Word, we need to apply it to ourselves: What am I building? What am I doing with my possessions? Fortunately, the Gospel also provides wise counsel: "... first sit down and estimate the cost to see whether he has enough to complete it" (Lk 14: 28) and "... sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand." (Lk 14: 31) Take time, sit down, and reflect on your life. It will soon be apparent that whatever you do or have is insufficient. Jesus puts it this way: "For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life." (Mk 8: 35-36) The key lies in prioritizing spiritual realities: "For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal." (2 Cor 4: 17-18) It is certain that I cannot take my possessions with me when I die so: "Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Lk 12: 33-34)

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

 This week's gospel occurs only in Luke. At the start of his gospel, he writes: "... I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus..." (Lk 1: 3). This leads me to think that Luke records this passage as being relevant to Theophilus who must have been a rich man in order to fund Luke in his research and  the production of the gospel. Not only the gospel, of course, but also the Acts of the Apostles. To produce these books, written on vellum (fine leather) by four scribes, simultaneously receiving the dictation of the evangelist, was an expensive business. (This also explains why it is impossible to get back to the one "original" version since each scribe would have made a slightly different version recording what the evangelist said.) Theophilus is exhorted not to vaunt himself over the community, of which he was an important member, rather: "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted." (Lk 14: 11) In this way he would be imitating Christ, as we are also called to do as missionary disciples. St Paul put it this way: "Let each of you look not to his own interests, but to the interests of others. let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, whom, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross." (Phil 2: 4- 8)

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

 The question asked of Jesus and by us today is: "Lord, will only a few be saved?" (Lk 13: 23) The issue of justification is obviously one which has been relevant to spiritual people from the beginning. The next question, for Christians today, may be: "How are people saved - by faith or by works?" This issue, sadly, has caused division among Christians since the time of Martin Luther when he, it is said, nailed the 95 Theses to the cathedral door in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. The good news is that on October 31, 1999, a Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification was signed between the Holy See and the Worldwide Lutheran Federation. This agreement, in short, ended one of the fundamental differences between Christians in the West. It led to a new era of cooperation and dialogue which continues today. Effectively it is the end of the Protestant Reformation and, therefore, the Catholic Counter Reformation. All Christians need to accept that we have more in common than we have that divides us. Sure, there is still work to be done. We still do not have full communion but the days of hostility and even hatred have ended. Let us walk together in faith with our fellow Christians and continue the process of mutual understanding and shared faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. One thing is certain - we should not commit the sin of presumption in thinking that because God is loving we will be saved regardless of our actions: "Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' But the Lord will say, 'I do not know where you come from; go away from me, you evildoers!' " (Lk 13: 26-27)

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Today's gospel is confronting. Jesus tells us that he comes to bring division! This is not usually what we expect from Jesus who, in his resurrection, greets the disciples: "Peace be with you" (Lk 24: 36) How does the division come about? I think it is because Jesus asks the question: "But who do you say that I am?" (Lk 9: 20) We know from our own experience, including our families, that the responses to this question vary. The fire that Jesus brings is a judgement that purifies our hearts and asks of us a living faith whereby we trust in him. Being a Christian takes ongoing conversion and openness to God's love even if others look at us sideways or think of us as strange or even deluded. Coming to Mass on Sunday is important because it affirms the fundamental choice we each make to follow Jesus, as his missionary disciples, and orient our lives towards him and him alone. No other relationship, ideology or lifestyle can take his place. the mystery of the gift of faith is deepened further when we understand that the initial choice come not from me but from God: "I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. you did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another." (Jn 15: 15-17) 

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Today we hear, sadly, a lot about mental illness. There is an epidemic of loneliness, depression, anxiety and other conditions that makes the lives of many miserable. That is why it is so comforting to hear Jesus say to his disciples: "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Lk 12: 32) How can we, in 2025, rely on this promise and allow it to give us strength in meeting the challenges of a complex world where things are changing so rapidly? Our answer comes from the Second Reading: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval." (Heb 11: 1) It is the gift of faith, both of the Church and personal, that gives me the assurance that the desires in my heart for love, peace and ultimately eternal life, are not deluded. St Paul tells us: "... for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him." (2 Cor 4: 7-9) Our desire to what is right and good, including our participation in Sunday Mass, arises not from duty or fear but out of gratitude and love. We rejoice, as our ancestors in faith did, that the good we do finds its meaning in the great and higher purpose given us by God and sustained by his grace: "Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain." (1 Cor 15: 58)

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 The Second Reading teaches us, regarding the resurrection: "But each is his own order; Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ." (1 Cor 15: 23) Today's feast recognizes that, in the order of the resurrection, Our Lady, her Son excluded, takes priority ahead of all other human beings. In fact, she shares now fully in the resurrection where the human body is glorified, and shares in the same resurrected state as the Lord. How does this happen? In my opinion, it is fitting that the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception (1854) was proclaimed ahead of that of the Assumption (1950). It is because Our Lady was free from sin, both original and personal, that the corruption of death did not touch her body. We speak not of her death but the "dormition," that is, the falling asleep of Our Lady. In other words, the curse: "... you are dust and unto dust you will return" (Gen 3: 19), spoken to Adam and Eve due to their disobedience after believing the lies of the Serpent: "You will not die" (Gen 3: 4), does not affect her.  St Paul tells us "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rm 6: 23) This privilege was not solely for her benefit but also for the rest of the Church so that our own hope of resurrection and ultimate glory would be strengthened. We hear in the Preface for the solemnity: "For today the Virgin Mother of God was assumed into heaven as the beginning and image of your Church's coming to perfection and a sign of sure hope and comfort of your pilgrim people; rightly you would not allow her to see the corruption of the tomb since from her own body she marvelously brought forth your incarnate Son, the Author of all life." (Roman Missal, Preface for the Assumption of the BVM)